10 August 2015

Amuneke, Manu Confident Of Eaglets Success

Golden Eaglets coach Emmanuel Amuneke and former coach of the team Manu Garba have expressed confidence in the team’s ability to defend the title they won for the fourth time in 2013.
The tournament holds in Chile from October 17 to November 8.

Amuneke, who was Garba’s assistant in their last world conquest, said his hopes were raised after his team were drawn in Group A alongside hosts Chile, Croatia and USA in the tournament’s group stage.

Nigeria begin the defence of their title against USA at Estadio Nacional Martinez Pradanos in Santiago.


The former African Footballer of the Year said on the Nigeria Football Federation’s website, “We are the defending champions and we must be ready to play any team. I think our group, like the rest, is not an easy one and we were not expecting anything less. We know there will not be any easy game for us and we have to redouble our efforts and continue to prepare well.

“The draw is a welcome development because we had been waiting anxiously for long to know about the teams we are going to meet and it is interesting that we are in the same group with the host team, Chile.

“All this while, we had been working generally but we would now be working specifically with our opponents in mind.”

Garba, who was instrumental to the last two successful campaigns, believe the class of 2015 can go all the way yet again.

He said, “It’s not an easy group. Chile are the hosts and South American teams are always good.

“Croatia is part of former Yugoslavia along with Serbia that just won the U-20 FIFA World Cup in New Zealand which shows their football culture is good and USA plays with aggression. But they all are up against Nigeria, four-time World Cup winners and the No. 1 ranked team at that level.

“I’m very optimistic that with good preparations and motivation, we can qualify from this tough group and go all the way to excel and I wish my dear country good luck in Chile.”

Meanwhile, the Golden Eaglets continued with their preparation ahead of the World Cup with a 10-1 win over Beautiful Tour FC of Abuja on Friday.

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